David Bolton wonders: How far has recording come, and where is it going?
When we think of music, what comes to mind? Are we Gaga for the latest pop hit or is music more than a feeling?
Superstars with inflated egos or earnest young men making sounds that capture the mood and emotion of the moment? Do we think iTunes, downloads or MySpace? Or can we still remember vinyl and eight tracks, a time before CDs and Mp3s? Do we ever think of the session musician, seeking not for fame and fortune but a regular paycheck?
Music and technology have enjoyed a very special relationship over the years. The basics of sound reproduction have been known since the 9th Century, but the invention of the phonograph cylinder in 1877 by Thomas Edison, a true East Coaster, allowed for the recordings to be played back aurally at an individuals’ convenience. Groundbreaking experiments in electricity in the 1920’s further enhanced the technology and radio transmissions ensured that mass consumption of recorded and live sound recordings could be heard. (more…)
